Something out of the ordinary is taking place in Horden, County Durham, this weekend thanks to an artistic takeover.

Actually, it’s less of a takeover than a voiceover.

VoiceOver is the title of a work by Umbrellium, an international group of artists, which turns people’s voices into light and sound by means of digital technology.

It is a world premiere for Easter weekend focused on Roseby Road and Rosedale Terrace in the village near Peterlee.

A pair of ‘talking stations’ have been positioned in the village and anyone can enter and see their words transformed as they travel along the line linking them.

The VoiceOver station in position (Image: Richard Kenworthy)

Residents of the two chosen streets were invited to be VoiceOver ‘hosts’. Each received a light antenna, to light up every time a voice passes down the street, and a radio box enabling them to listen to what was being said in the VoiceOver stations.

Volunteers were also sought to help the production team set up and to invigilate over the weekend.

The organisers said it was a great opportunity for anyone interested in technology, the arts or the management of live events.

VoiceOver was commissioned by Forma Arts and Media (London-based but with strong links to the North East) as part of East Durham Creates, one of the three Arts Council England projects funded by its Creative People &amp; Places programme.

Debbi Lander, senior producer at Forma, described VoiceOver as “a visionary integration of creative technology, community and environment”.

The VoiceOver project (Image: Richard Kenworthy)

At the launch in Horden’s Roseby Road Wellbeing Centre, ward councillor June Clark said the VoiceOver project had brought people in who didn’t even know the place existed.

She admitted it had not won everybody over, saying: “This project has been a little like Marmite. You’ve either loved it or thought ‘it’s not for me’. But it has got people talking.”

Among those talking were two of the local volunteers.

VoiceOver host Courtney, aged 11, of Rosedale Terrace, said: “It made us feel really happy because round here you don’t get to do things that are free and there’s nothing that really happens.”

Neighbour and fellow VoiceOver host Rachael said: “To be honest, I didn’t know anything about it at all and now, after doing this, I’d love to do other things. It’s great.”

Councillor June Clark at the VoiceOver launch (Image: Richard Kenworthy)

She added: “There’s no need for people to ignore each other, especially neighbours. When you live so close, why can’t people interact?”

Umbrellium has worked in cities across the world. On their website – umbrellium.co.uk – they state: “Our aim is for participants to develop a shared sense of technological enfranchisement and ownership in civic outcomes.

“When people act together, they are more effective.”

Creative People &amp; Places projects are aimed at commmunities which have lacked access to top quality arts activities. There are 21 around the country and the others in the North East are The Cultural Spring, in Sunderland and South Tyneside, and bait in South East Northumberland.

If you fancy seeing or taking part in VoiceOver, it runs until Easter Monday.